Incendiary bomb



Sept 25, 15945. T. M. FINLEY '2,385,502

INCENDIARY.. BOMB F11ed June 11,1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1945. 'i'. M. FINLEY i INCENDIRY BOMB 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed- June 11, 1941 Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED PATENT QlFfFlCE.

INCENDIAREBOMB `"IhomasiM. Finley, Caledonia, Mo.. Applicationlune' 11, 1941;- Serial-fNo.l3'97,616

. (,ol.. aa-6) 1'0 Claims.

Thef-invention" relates to anE incendiarybomb. Y- object of the present invention'is to provide forraerial .workfan incendiary bomb designed to be dropped fromA aircraft and: adapted Vfor use on land arid sea and-equipped with detonating v'mechanismvhaving means Yforwpreventing premature explosionandicapableof enabling 'thebomb to be handled ,:Withsafety and of: preventingl the bomb from ffigniting v-an --ineendiary explosive charge untillthe bomb contactswithan-objective so that the bomb -Will-beeffe'ctive to produce' the destructive eiectat ithe'de'sired place.

Another object of-rthefinventionisvto equip the bomb with lmeans for Vlocking -the fdetona'ting mechanism out' ofoperation until :itfisidesired Kto load. thev bombvonaan Qairo'rafmand-'toprovide means for automatically releasing 'lthefdetonating mechanism and of arranging the same for operationwithin a'shortftime after'thebomb-is dropped andy is a safedistanceffrom.ansairplane.or other aircraft-.thereby aording complete protection against. accidental premature f explosion;

Another object ofthe winventionffistof-provide an incendiary bomb adapted to -beaeasilyand cheaply manufactured insmall' machine 'shops and similar.` small. automobile repair-garagesand the like and of :inexpensive .mat'eri'aleasily'f obtainable in largequantitiesat a loW-costin^prac tically` all :portions of-thefcountry.'

vAnother object ofthe' invention ais' ftoHprovide an incendiary bomb .especially fdesigned and adapted for containing .or holding as an incendiaryzand explosive charge amixturebf gasoline and air and-the-pressureg` and-of. enabling-such explosive `mixture to-,be handled-.asf safely as -ordinaryf. gasoline.

"It is also 'an-objectof :the inventionf to )provide anincendiary bomb adapted: tofemployffor such inflammable explosive` r gasoline mixture various kinds of 'erdinaryfcontainers suchas-m'etal and Wooden-barrels anddrums'andfsimilar containers Of .any size having-:sufncient:strength' to carrya load -of said-explosive;nnxture:and capable -o`f Withstanding4 the vinternal ,pressurewf fthe same.

rA -rurtlfierobject offthewinvention is to provide ani incendiary bomb.' adaptedtorbefreadily-constr/usted?Ofprdinary-.ironand comparatively little steel and f' ,without :neoessitatingf the employment efcexpen'sivefmetals; andf alloysnsu'ch `as copper, brasbronze, 'aluminum and the"likeordinarily required in! the construction of: explosivebombs.

With thesegandother objects -fin viewftheinventien monsists' inftheanorel construction, combination A and arrangement of :parts :hereinafter fully tdsliibedr :illusiratedinithe accompanyingv drawings" and pointed out fin thev claimsl hereto appended, it being lunderstood A'that various changes-in the' lform,` construction and' details off construction-.within the scopeof the claims may be resorted yto -without ydepartingy from' the spirit or -sa'cricing any advantagesV of theinvention "Inithe drawings: f l

Figure 1 is asider elevation -of an'incendiary bomb constructed inaocordancewith this'vinvention, 1 the l parachute? "element" or f member being nested closeI -to 'the-upper cap of the bomb.

Figure 2` is a central longitudinal sectionalview of thesame,i the'kparachute element'or member beingV moved' outwardly VAto its operative lposition andthe ysectionV being? takenion the line" 2 2 of Figure' 1.

*Figure 3'isan enlargeddetail View of the lower end of the -incendiary' bomb.

Figure =`4= i's-"anrenlarged'fdetail sectional view on the :line 4-14iofigure'f2- Figure 5 lis-an 'enlarged`=detal Lsectionalview of the detonating mechanism, the section tbeing takenA 'at ri'ghtangles .-toFigure'Z.

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View illustrating-another form of the'invention.

rr-ReerringparticularlyjtoFigures 1 to 6, inclusive; of the accompanying 4drawings, fthe incendiary `bomb comprises inV its construction a container' l'designed'primarily'for holding anexplosive inflammable liquidZ 'preferably consisting off high-'test gasoline and air under pressure but any otherexplosive xmaterialrnay of course be employed and in practice other ingredients may be introduced into the liquid mixture for increasing ithe intensityof the 'heat arid the 'duration lof' theburningfthereof las will be readily understood. "The container I may consist f metal barrels'fand-druma wood-en barrels :and various otherftypesof containers'either used or newfand unused and having su'icient strength forrholding a' 'charge of' the' `inflammabley explosivemxture'. and withstanding the `internal pressureresultingf from introducing *compressed air into the container.

'The containers:I I may' be of 4any desired capacityv'and'thebarrel illustratedfin Figures 1 and 2` of the=drawingsis av barrel of the ordinary constructionv` and as any-type of barrel or; containerof' this character may be employed a detailed -description of the particularA construction offthe barrel lis'de'emed unnecessary. ThecontainerformsaLliquid tight'chamber for holding al1-'inflammable explosive'liquid material. `Extending through the container I centrally thereof is a tubular member 3 composed preferably of an upper tube 4, a lower tube 5 and an intermediate enlarged tr-ansversely disposed tube E forming a housing for detonating mechanism. The upper tube 3 extends through an opening 'I in the upper end of the barrel and is preferably exteriorly threaded at its upper end at 8 to receive a nut 9 for clamping a sealing member I exteriorly against the upper end of the barrel as clearly fshown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The sealing member I0 may be of wood, metal or any other suitable material and in practice suitable packing will be employed for rendering the top or upper end of the container I liquid tight.

The upper tube 4 may be of any desired diameter and the lower end or head II of the barrel is provided with an enlarged opening I2' to receive the transversely disposed tubular housing member 6 and to enable the tubular member 3 to be readily introduced into the barrel from the bottom thereof in assembling the mechanism of the bomb. The transverse housing tube 6 is seated in a recess I3 of a sealing member I4 bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end II of the barrel at its periphery and also clamped by a nut I5 which is screwed on the threaded upper portion I6 of the lower tube 5. The sealing member which is pierced at its periphery by suitable fastening devices I 'I may be constructed of Wood or metal and in practice is designed to be provided with suitable packing material for rendering the barrel liquid tight at the bottom.

The lower end of the upper tube 4 is threaded at IB and is screwed into the housing section of the tubular member at the top thereof and the upper end of the lower tube 5 is threaded into the housing member v[i at the bottom of the same. The housing member 6 is provided at the top and bottom with thickened portions I9 and 20 which may be formed by welding bosses or pieces to the transverse tubular section 6 or in any other suitable manner and the thickened portions are provided with interiorly threaded openings 2| and 22 to receive the threaded ends of the tubes 4 and 5.

In order to streamline the bomb at the top and bottom of the barrel upper and lower substantially conical caps 23 and 24 are provided. The caps 23 and 24 which may be constructed of sheet metal or any other suitable material are bolted or otherwise secured to the barrel at the top and bottom thereof at 25 and 25 and the upper cap is supported at its apex 2'Iv by a rod 28 forming a continuation' of the tubularmember 3 and having a lower threaded end 29 which is screwed into the upper end of thetube 4,v The central vertical rod 28 extends through an opening 39 in the apex of the upper cap 23 and projects beyond the same and has its upper terminal 3I threaded for the reception of a nut 32 which forms a stop for a parachute member 33.

The parachute member 33 which may be constructed of sheet metal or any other suitable ma'- terial is substantially in the form of a truncated cone and is slidable upwardly and downwardly on the extended portions of the rod 28 and is guided by the same and also by guide rods 34 preferably four in number but the number of the guide rods may of course be varied as will be readily understood. The guide rods 34 are secured at their upper ends to the hood-shaped parachute member at the top thereof and are slidable through openings 35 in the top of the upper cap 23. The upper cap 23 is preterably thickened around the opening 35 through which the rod passes and the guide rods 34 are provided at their lower ends with suitable stops 31 preferably consisting of nuts and arranged to engage the thickened portion of the cap for limiting the upward movement of the parachute member.

The parachute member is adapted to be nested close to the upper cap 23 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 Y`oi vthe drawings until the bomb is dropped. The lower peripheral portion 38 of the parachute member is spaced from and projects outwardly beyond the adjacent surface of the upper cap when the same is nested as Shown in Figure 1. Suitable spacing means 39 which may be conveniently formed by semi-spherical protuberances space the lower peripheral portion of the parachute member 33 from the upper cap 23 so that when the bomb is dropped the air will enter the parachute member beneath the peripheral flange or edge 38 and will cause the parachute memberto move upwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings so that the downward movement of the bomb will be retarded and the bomb caused to drop in a vertical position but other means may be employed for causing the bomb dropping to assume a true vertical position right side up. Also the retarding of the bomb will insure sufficient time for the automatic releasing of the detonating mechanism hereinafter described.

The lower cap 24 which is constructed substantially the same as the upper cap may be reinforced Aby metal strips 40 and it is supported at its apex in an annular ange 4I preferably L- shaped in cross section to provide a groove to receive the apex portion of the lower cap. The upper cap may also be braced at its base as shown at 42 in Figure 2 of the drawings. While it is desirable and advantageous to provide streamline upper and lower caps for the container these are of course not absolutely necessary and containers may be employed without the upper and lower caps.

The housing 6 for the detonating mechanism is provided at opposite sides of the lower end of the upper tube 4 with short gun barrels 43 threaded into the upper thickened portion of the housing 6 and designed particularly for the reception of a shotgun shell 44 without shot secured in position by a breech block 41 having a rin-g pin 45 and threaded into the inner end of the gun 'barrel as illustrated at 46. The firing pin is 'adapted to engage the percussion cap of the shot- I.gun shell and explode or re the shell in the usual manner but a blank cartridge or similar 'ammunition may of course be provided as will be readily understood. The firing pin 45 is provided with a head 48 which is slidably mounted in a chamber 49 of the breech block and which is limited in its outward sliding movement by a screw 59. The screw 5l) pierces the wall of the chamber 49 and engages a groove 5I in the head of the ring pin which is maintained normally out of engagement with the percussion cap of the. shell by a coiled spring 52 interposed between the outerwall of the chamber and the head of they firing pin. Any number of gun barrels may of course be provided and the pair of gun barrels illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings have their shells simultaneously fired by the head 53,01 a plunger 54 slidably mounted in the lower .tube 5 and extending downwardly below the outer end of the tube and having a tapered or spiked head 55 at its lower end for contacting with an assieme object` when` the 1 bomb dropped 1whereby-the plnngerwill .be iorced: inwardly :nr z upwardly to carry-.its head l53into engagementnwith thexring pins of the gun barrels 43.

The` head 53 :ofzthe .plunger rmaybewconveniently fonmedbyiat shorttubesecuredby a threadedfstemnor screw-54a. Theplungerfis tubular* and r the screwrie is threaded into .the ttubular yheadznf .the plunger "and'into the rapper endy of ithe: plunger.y tube' 54. :Anyzother 'suitable means mayfrbe of Y. course :employed forseciiring the `headf 53:;oi the'plunger '.tothe stemrorgiiubular portion l :of the zplunger. The tubular head is udisposeditransversely lwith :respect i-to the ttubular'fmember .i3 and it iis :provided iattthe 'top Witheet:ringpin-:engagingzmeinberi5dgconsisting preferablyf ofzanetalstrip centrally secured-t the :tubular fheadr at :the-top1 thereof :and: having side portions 51 arrangedeatxa slightxinclination andidiverging downwardlysligh'tly tozarrang'e the upper :ifaoes of` such` .portionszin :substantial .sparallelisrn`v with `.the end .faces of the heads i548 `:of theoring pins. 'LTherin-g pin f engagingfmember..is'adaptedI to contact stniarely with r the.E lower ends of theringfpinsfwhen the plunger is moved upwardly andk 'the'. :plunger 'head1 is -alsolguided 'in its vupward :movement byfaaushort'csquaresnonrotarystem 58z :extending .upwardly from .ther-said firing :pin :engaging member :55 "at .the :center thereofl .and'r having itsV upper portion f' arranged nrazcentraliopening-i' in. a .plugnsuitablyfsecured "Within fthe i lower Eend .of the f-upper tube 4. `:The ends'lrofthe memberlrsareextended downwardly wand i .inwardly las vclearlyf shown i in Figure of 'the ifdrawings :1a-ndi suitably secu-red to? the Y plunger i* head 53 kat' opposite `vsides 1 thereof to 'bracev and support the rsiderportionsf5'! which engage the' lower ends of -the'ring pins.

-Thefouter= ends of thereon-.barrel B3v are-sealed byfc'losure-zcaps62 of :thin metalpreferablyvwith rims '163 threaded l `or -otherwise secured `-to 2 the outerV endsfofithefg-un zbarrels. The closurecaps liZflare preferably .coated `with shellac orfother suitable material for renderingL the `outer ends of the lgun barrelsiliquid-tight -so 'thatfthere will lbet nofdangenof: the liquid contained''in thefbarrelz of the. bomb' seeping= into' onv otherwise penetrating the-'gunv barrels and aiiecting the shells 44.

i-'The housingi-is providedat 'its endswith'heads 64 hav-ine` 'anges i651 which are threaded" into the ends of. thef transverse tube constituting-thebody portion Y of lfthe housing sand the esaid heads 4 are: provided -withv short-gun 4barrels -sealedlat their outerends by closurefcaps 67 and provided with breech blocks` 68 threaded `into` the=inner ends-of the gun' barrel and provided'withopen- .ings 69 for enabling firing hammers 'liuto @be forced into engagement'with the percussion caps of the-shells 1I. Thering hammers are pivo-ted at 'I2 to the closure heads of the housing at points beneath the gun barrel and they'areourved inwardly and upwardly and taper at their upper portions to a rine'portionfna. :Theiflrng'hammers are normally held in aretracted' position by coiled springs 13 and they extend zinwardly into the tubular plunger head-and into the path Yoi the lower portion thereof so that'whenthe plurieer `hea-'d is forced upwardly it yvirili-swing the 'ii-ring` hammers into engagement-with. the shoteun yshel-ls'l! and also drive the ilriner pins 52 of the shotgun barrels '-43 finto engagement with the shotgun shells 44 so thatall-of theshotaun shells will be-simultaneously fired into the explosive inflammable gasoline mixture.

.The-plunger is maintained 1in' its flowered posih securely locked inthe bungr hole 'lnoflthei plunger FEA-sand adaptedv toL vbe Y:Screwed upwardlyfuonssaid threaded portion and into engagement with the-lowerferrd ofithe hom-b` This4 will; prevent.- accidentalinward :or upward f movement ,ofthe plunger. .Alsothe nut `is positively heldeaeainst. rotationiw-henin engagement lwith theflowerfend :ofz the loon-1b. :The ylocking:means fon the-nut may .consistgofa cotter pin'l'l: ort-other suitable fastening fdeviee #which vwill ffenable :a leached'F bomb toc-bephandled;asfsafely @asi handling ordinaryngasoline. Ther-nut is iprovided atriits periphery with uanes l8 -and when :the-bomb -,is loaded on an aircraft the cottenpinisfremoved forreleasing --the fnut soz that' when :ther-bomb is droppedfthe Vanes18=which forrnapropeller-:will rotate :l the nut and u-nscrew` theesamev from s the upperV endof. theV threadedpportion '16 so thatthe plunger will befreertofmove upwardly-when `it comes. in, contacttwith an4 object .orza resisting surface.. .The ,bladestareofssuicientasize :arid pitchv so: that-should-fthebombinr dropping@` come irl-contact with the-surface -of-water the resistance ofthe-water `w-i-llflbe -suiicient to force-,theplunger upwardlyfwithsuicent force-.to re the shotgun shells and explode@ the. inflammable liquid. :The parachute-member will retard thefdrQppngcof the-bombsuoientto-enable .the vanesxof-thefnut to :.unscrew :the same :,'suiiiciently 'to release the plunger ,and i .only a :short interval :will :be rrequired toplace the detonating mechanism :in-condition-for operation.

:The -zbarrel is provided with :a bung :hole '1:9 and-I the A'bung 1 80 which eisdrivenl intowtlie-l bung hole in Ytheusual. manner isyprovide'd `with an air ,-valve f8 l f similar to .ther-rait valve-g of a; pneumatic. tire. .of fanwautomobile-:and: adapted tof=perntitfxair-v under; pressure' to tbe introduced; :into:y the barrel and oonned therein a by la :pufrnpfror` any othersuitable means suchfasastorage tank. thevvalve .8 Lis. of-1 the ordinary construction; :de-

tailed illustration?anddescription thereofsare unnecessary. The-bom-b-isr provided atitsnouterv end-.with a recess 82,-forthe 'reception' of :suitablesealing material, for concealing `and; preventing tamperingvwithtthe :air-l valve. The bung-is .by vrriea-ns'of springs--83 ,preferably four in number .and mountedwinf'groovesllein the sides of the bung-and-secu-redfat their outer portions tothe-bungl Ibyfsuii'.- able.v fastening devices :85; and provided; at their inner-ends lwith lhooks -i adapted to' be moved" inwardlyg-i-nto. the grooves when the4 bling is forced intothe :bung -hole fand. capable-of springing outwardly as -:soonaasI the hook-shaped =ends= 83:;are

carriedvinwardlybeyond the-wa`lls -of, tl'iep-lciarrel.v

The :hook-shaped terminals of the springs yengage the: interior :surface ofz-the: barrel and effectual-1y lock ,the-bung ffirr thebune :hole .iand'awhilez-four of .the flocking,r4 s-prngse` are :preierablyeemployed the number may vary.

,lnrEigure 7 ofrthe drawings is illustrated,Y a modification of; the invention 5in'l which the .containercf86 dsnmade b3/:suitable lengths of tubular material \which.:mayfbei ofrfany-f desired .diameter andwhich11-1r1ay be constructed yof :any suitable metal. :T-,heoontainerizdsf provided-with: upper and l'lowerrheada81 andizil Vhaving annular nanges 89z'and -90fzscrewede into: the endsVV of the ltubular bodyoportion: 8 6'; of'lthe: container. vvThe container 86. iis fpreferablyoprovidedz wither streamlinenupper and-lower caps@ltandeBZx-suitably.securedlto the.

tiomout ofi-engagement withr thering'hammers tubular body portion 86 at the exterior thereof as clearly illustrated inligur'e of the drawings. Thev heads are reinforced or thickened as shown and the upper head is provided with a central threaded opening 93 for the reception of the lower threaded end 94 of a vertical rod 95 extending upwardly from the upper end of the container and supporting the upper end of the upper cap similar to the rod 28. The bomb shown in Figure 7 is preferably provided with a parachute member 33 constructed and arranged as heretofore described. The container is', also provided at the bottom with a tubular member 96 screwed into the lower head of the container 86 at the center thereof and extending into the container and provided with a housing 91 similar to that heretofore described.

The housing is provided with the gun barrels heretofore described and with the detonating mechanism illustrated in Figures and 6 and heretofore fully described. Also the plunger is controlled bya nut 'l5 having wings i8 adapted to be locked by a cotter pin 17. Also the container 86 is designed to be provided with the bung and bungv hole heretofbre described and to be filled with gasoline and air mixture under pressure. Asthe operation of the bung illustrated in Figure '7 of the drawings is theV same as that heretofore described further description of the same is vdeemed unnecessary. The heads of the tubular container may be secured to the body portion in any other manner, such as by bolts, screws, welding or any other well known means.

What is claimed is:

1. A bomb of the character described, including a container for holding an inflammable explosive material, central vertical tubular member extending through the bottom ofthe container and having a housing arranged interiorly of the container, a plurality of gun barrels mounted on the housing and extending into the container, a plunger slidable in the tubular member and having a head located with the housing, said plunger projecting at the bottom of thebomb and movable upwardly when the bomb in falling contacts with a surface, and means located at the inner end of each gun barrel and arranged to be simultaneously engaged'and actuated by the plunger head for ring explosive charges from the gun barrels into the container.

2. A bomb of the class described, including a container for` holding an inflammable material, a central vertical tubular member extending through the bottom of the container and having a housing located within the container, short gun barrels mounted on the housing at opposite sides thereof, firing hammers pivotally mounted within the housing adjacent the gun barrels and having terminal portions for engagingcan explosive charge within the gun barrels and a plunger slidable in the tubular member and having a head operating within the housing and arranged to engage and actuate the firing hammers simultaneously.

3. A bomb of the class described, including a container for holding an iniammable-explosive material, a tubular member extending through the bottom of the container and provided with a housing arranged within the container, a plurality of gun barrels mounted on the housing at the top thereof and provided With firing pins, side gun barrels mounted on the housing at opposite sides thereof, ring hammers pivotally mounted within the housing adjacent the side gun barrels, and a plunger slidable in the tubular member `and provided with a head operating within the housing and arranged to engage and actuate simultaneously the Vfiring pins and thek jecting into the liquid in the container, a plunger slidable in the tubular member and having a head operating in the housing and provided at the top with a stem guided by said guiding means, and. means arranged to be engaged by a plurality of portions of said plunger for iiring an explosive charge in the gun barrels.

5. A bomb of the class described, including a container for holding an inflammable explosive material, a tubular member extending through the bottom of the container and having a housing arranged in the container, a gun barrel mounted on the housing and arranged to discharge into the container, a Vplunger slidable in the tubular member and provided withy a lower threaded portion, means arranged within the housing and located in the path of the plunger for firing an explosive charge within the gun barrel when actuated by the plunger, a nut arranged on the threaded portion of the plunger and arranged to engage a fixed portion of the plunger to hold the plunger against upward sliding movement, and vanes carried by the nut and arranged to be acted on by the air to retract the nut andV release the plunger when the bomb is dropped.

6. A bom-b of the class described, including a container for holding an iniiammable explosive material, a tubular member extending through the bottom of the container and having .a housing arranged in the container, a gun barrel mounted on the housing and arranged to discharge into the container, a plunger slidable in the tubular member and provided with a lower threaded portion, means arranged within the housing and located in the path of the plunger for firing an explosive charge within the gun barrel when-actuated by the plunger, a nut arranged on the threaded portion of the plunger and arranged to engage a fixed portion of the plunger to hold the plunger against upward sliding movement, vanes carried =by the nut and arranged to be acted on by the air to retract the nut and release the plunger lwhen the bomb is dropped, and normally releasable means for locking the nut against rotation.

7. A bomb of the class described, including a container for holding an iniiammable explosive material, a tubular member extending throughI the bottom ofthe container and having a housing arranged in the container, a gun barrel mounted on the housing and arranged. to discharge into the container, a plunger slidable in the tubular member vand provided with a lower threaded portion, means arranged within the housing and located in the path of the plunger for iiring an explosive charge within the gun barrel when actuated by the plunger, a nut arranged on the threaded portion of the plunger and arranged to engage a fixed portion of the plunger to hold the plunger against upward sliding movement, vanes carried b-y the nut and arranged to be acted on by the air to retract the nut and release the plunger when the bomb is the tubular member and provided with a lower threaded portion, means arranged within the housingand located in the path of the plunger for ring an explosive charge within the gun barrel when actuated by the plunger, a nut arranged on the threaded portion of the plunger and arranged to engage a fixed portion of the plunger to hold the plunger against upward sliding movement, vanes carried by the nut andarranged to vbe acted on by the air to retract the nut and release the plunger when the bomb is drapped, and a parachute member located at the top of the bomb and arranged to retard the downward movement of the bomb to afford time for the retraction of the nut and the release of the plunger and at the same time cause the bomb to descend in a proper vertical position.

9. A bomb of the class described, including a container forming a liquid tight chamber for holding inflammable explosive liquid material, a liquid tight casing located in said chamber at the bottom thereof below the surface of inflammable liquid contained in said chamber, a central vertical tubular member connected with the casing intermediate of the ends thereof, with the ends of the casing projecting laterally beyond the tubular member, a plunger slidable inl the tubular member and extending downwardly from the interior of the casing and projecting beyond the container, and means operable by the upward movement of the plunger for firing explosive charges simultaneously from the ends of the casing directly into la body of inammable liquid contained in said chamber.

10. A bomb of the class described, including a container forming a liquid tight chamber for holding inflammable explosive liquid material, a liquid tight casing located in said chamber at the bottom thereof below the surface of innammable liquid contained in said chamber, a central v,vertical tubular member connected with the casing intermediate of the ends thereof, with the ends of the casing projecting laterally beyond the tubular member, a plunger slidable in the tubular member and extending downwardly from the interior of the casing and projecting beyond the container, a vertical guide located at the top of the casing, a head carried by the plunger and located Within said casing and provided at the top with a stem slidable in said guide, and means actuated by said head for simultaneously firing a plurality of explosive charges directly into a body of liquid inflammable explosive material contained within said chamber.

THOMAS M. FINLEY. 

